Healthy High Calorie Food Ideas

It is important to maintain healthy eating habits while receiving cancer treatment. Here are some suggestions for high calorie foods that still keep you healthy and some would even make great snacks!
• Make an egg white omelet using olive oil, lots of veggies, and low-fat cheese
• Blend a fruit smoothie of ½ banana, frozen berries, Greek yogurt, and 1 tablespoon nonfat powdered milk
• Use milk instead of water to make oatmeal or cream of wheat
• Add nonfat powdered milk to a glass of regular milk or to mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and casseroles
• Eat fatty fish, such as salmon, two to three times per week
• Toss pasta with olive or canola oil before adding sauces
• Add extra olive or canola oil when cooking lean meats, vegetables, stir-fry, soups, or milkshakes/smoothies
• Use canola mayo in tuna or egg salad or as a spread on your favorite sandwich
• Use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream
• Limit low calorie beverages, such as diet drinks, and replace with milk, smoothies, or juice
• Carry snacks with you at all times so you are prepared to eat every 3-4 hours

The following tips are additional healthy high calorie food ideas, but may not be appropriate if you have pain or difficulty with swallowing:
• Have 1/4-1/2 cup of nuts every day
• Use natural peanut butter, the kind where the oils sits on the top, on sandwiches, with fruit, or on crackers
• Try other nut butters (i.e. almond, cashew) instead of natural peanut butter
• Use olive oil-based vinaigrette dressings on salads, vegetables, and pasta
• Dip bread in olive oil and vinegar
• Make nachos with baked tortilla chips, whole beans or refried beans, cheese, olives, guacamole, and salsa
• Make trail mix with whole wheat cereal, nuts, raisins and other dried fruits
• Drizzle olive oil onto freshly popped popcorn
• Add olives to pasta, pizza, and salad, or just eat them plain
• Top hummus on pita bread or crackers or use hummus as a dip for your favorite vegetables
• Add guacamole to your Mexican food or sandwich
• Add avocado slices to your sandwich or salad
• Sprinkle nuts, seeds, or dried fruits into yogurt, ice cream, cereal, oatmeal, and stir fry
• Use nuts or dried fruits in muffin and bread recipes
• Add cheddar cheese to vegetarian chili
• Add brown rice or quinoa to soups or stews
• Snack on flavored Greek yogurt with granola or Grape Nuts mixed in
• Add beans to soups, Mexican foods, or omelets